Volkswagen Arteon

The Volkswagen Arteon is the flagship four-door coupé under the Volkswagen brand, slotted between the Passat and Phideon with a strong focus on the sporty, premium segment. Making its global debut at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show as the successor to the Passat CC, the Arteon inherited the coveted title of the "most beautiful Volkswagen". In the Chinese domestic market, the Arteon manufactured by FAW-Volkswagen continues to carry the "CC" nameplate. The 2026 Volkswagen CC range is currently on sale in China, offering two bodystyles—a sedan and a shooting brake—across 4 variants, with prices ranging from RM224,900 to RM249,900. Meanwhile, Volkswagen Import officially brought in the Arteon Shooting Brake R-Line (abbreviated as Arteon SR) in April 2022, carrying a price tag of RM348,000.

Design Language

The Arteon stands out in the Volkswagen line-up with its distinctive, emotive design language. The front end is dominated by an expansive inverted trapezoidal grille featuring horizontal chrome slats; the top two slats blend seamlessly into the twin "L"-shaped LED daytime running lights on either side, creating a cohesive, unified look. Up front, a sleek clamshell bonnet sweeps out over the top of the front wheel arches, adorned with sharp, sculpted character lines. In profile, the car boasts a sleek and dynamic silhouette, defined by a fastback roofline that slopes gently from the B-pillar rearwards. The rear adopts a practical liftback tailgate design, complemented by signature full-width LED taillights. Frameless doors serve as another key styling highlight of the Arteon. In terms of dimensions, the international-spec Arteon measures 4,866 mm long, 1,871 mm wide, and 1,447 mm tall, with a 2,840 mm wheelbase; the 2026 China-spec CC sedan measures 4,865 × 1,870 × 1,459 mm (L × W × H), while the Shooting Brake variant measures 4,869 × 1,870 × 1,459 mm, both sharing a 2,841 mm wheelbase.

Powertrain and Performance

In global markets, the Arteon is offered with a choice of six powertrains comprising three petrol and three diesel options. The entry-level petrol variant is powered by a 1.5-litre TSI turbocharged engine delivering 150 hp, while the higher-end variants feature a 2.0-litre turbocharged unit tuned to either 190 hp or 280 hp. In China, the 2026 Volkswagen CC is powered exclusively by a 2.0T turbocharged engine across the board, offered in two states of tune: the 330TSI pushes out 137 kW (186 hp) and 320 Nm of torque, while the 380TSI churns out 162 kW (220 hp) and 350 Nm of torque. Power is sent to the wheels via a 7-speed wet dual-clutch transmission (DSG) as standard. In terms of century sprints, the 330TSI completes the 0-100 km/h run in 8.8 seconds, while the 380TSI clocks 7.7 seconds. The fully imported Arteon Shooting Brake 380 TSI R-Line Performance packs a 2.0T engine producing 200 kW (272 hp) and 350 Nm, completing the 0-100 km/h sprint in just 5.9 seconds.

Chassis and Handling

Underpinned by the Volkswagen Group’s modular MQB platform, the Arteon rides on a suspension setup consisting of front MacPherson struts and a rear multi-link independent setup. As for drivetrains, the China-spec CC is front-wheel drive (FWD) across the entire range, whereas the imported 380 TSI R-Line Performance comes equipped with the 4MOTION permanent all-wheel-drive system. An XDS electronic differential lock comes standard, applying brake pressure to the inside wheels during cornering to effectively suppress understeer. Higher-spec variants are further equipped with DCC (Dynamic Chassis Control), which automatically adjusts the damper stiffness according to the selected drive mode and prevailing road conditions. Steering is handled by an electric power steering (EPS) system, complemented by selectable drive modes covering Eco, Normal, Sport, and Individual presets.

Cabin and Equipment

Inside, the Arteon features a clean, sophisticated cabin layout, heavily trimmed in soft-touch surfaces and piano black accents to enhance its executive ambience. The 2026 China-spec CC is equipped with a 10.3-inch Digital Cockpit instrument cluster, an integrated 9.2-inch touchscreen infotainment display, and a head-up display (HUD). The multi-function steering wheel is leather-wrapped and fitted with paddle shifters. Infotainment duties are handled by the CNS 3.0 system, supporting smartphone connectivity and native GPS navigation. For seating, the front seats offer multi-way electric adjustment, with higher-spec models gaining heating, ventilation, and massage functions. Comfort appointments include a 30-colour ambient lighting system, tri-zone automatic climate control, and more. Practicality-wise, the sedan provides 501 litres of standard boot space, while the Shooting Brake boasts 565 litres, expanding up to 1,632 litres with the rear seats folded flat.

Safety and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems

The Arteon comes equipped with the Volkswagen IQ.DRIVE suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), delivering Level 2 semi-autonomous driving capabilities. Key active safety features include Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Lane Assist with active steering intervention, Lane Keeping Assist with Lane Departure Warning, Side Assist (Blind Spot Monitoring), and Front Assist Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB). In addition, the vehicle is fitted with Driver Alert (fatigue detection), Multi-Collision Brake (MCB), and Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RTA). On the passive safety front, the car comes equipped with 9 airbags as standard, comprising front driver and passenger airbags, a driver's knee airbag, side airbags, and full-length curtain airbags.

Market Performance and Legacy

Since its launch in 2017, the Arteon has seen a global production run of nearly 190,000 units. However, amid the global automotive industry's rapid transition towards electrification and changing consumer tastes, the Arteon's sales figures have waned. In 2024, US sales of the Arteon stood at just 1,256 units, marking a steep 46.5% decline from the 2,347 units sold in 2023. Volkswagen phased out production of the Arteon fastback sedan in 2023; while the Shooting Brake variant was originally slated to run until 2026, production was officially ended early in 2024. The discontinuation of the Arteon signals Volkswagen’s strategic shift away from niche internal combustion engine (ICE) coupés to concentrate resources on electric vehicles and SUVs. In China, however, the FAW-Volkswagen CC remains on sale, with monthly deliveries exceeding 4,400 units in January 2024. As the worthy successor to the "most beautiful Volkswagen", the Arteon has cemented its place in Wolfsburg’s history with its striking fastback silhouette and refined grand tourer appeal.